DIAL : A wonderful silver champleve dial, signed in the centre “Les freres Labbe”. Excellent condition with no rubbing or wear, though one small hole at ’25’ on the chapter ring. Nice early black steel hands.

INNER CASE : Silver with maker’s mark IR. In excellent condition though the stem and bow are slightly later replacements. The hinge is fine and the bezel closes well. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is perfect.

OUTER CASE : Silver with matching maker’s mark. There are a couple of very light bruises to the back, but generally the silver is again in very good condition. The hinge, catch and catch button are fine and the case snaps shut correctly.

Claude L’abe is recorded as working in Stuttgart up until about 1706. He was born in 1671 and died in 1717, and was Clockmaker to the Court.